Greetings, gang.

Cloudy and +5 headed for still cloudy and +15. Had about a half inch of snow overnight.

Pretty quiet day yesterday. Picked up the registered letter for my son. Turns out it was the place that sent him food for his feeding tube. They were telling me that if they didn't hear from me next week they will quit sending food. Also called the Ford dealer about the parts for the recall. Turns out the parts are in. Not sure why they couldn't call and tell me. I have an appointment for next Wed. at 9 AM. Also made a trip to the grocery store for a few things. Only thing planned for today is a trip to the gym.

All stay safe.

Tom

Good morning folks

It is 23 and the snow is falling. High will be 29. We are in a Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM tomorrow. Predictions are varied as to how much we will get. 3 to 6 seems to be the most common although a few are saying 9 inches.

I pretty much finished the frame for the layout widening on the first board. Now onto removing the pink foam from the second board.

Went to Home Depot to grab some more lumber. I hope I have enough.

I hope everybody has a good day.

33 and very light rain.  Had a strong pour down earlier for about 5 minutes.  Had some icing in pines next door.  Just got out of virtual Human Services Regional Networks meeting [I'm chair].  Need to look outside. 

Listen to this.  State Health Plan for employees changed from United Health Care [had for years] to Humana.  Vision Ins. and Dental Ins. is United Health Care.  Went to eye DR.  Usually do exam and glasses at same visit.  Can't do now.  Have to make two visits or double co-pay.  STUPID  Going back at 1 to do glasses. 

CBS news really blasted Texas power grid.  Didn't winterize.  25% solar and wind [now not working].  Natural gas plants but coal backup which didn't go on line.  Even without storm, not enough power to go around.   

Hope all stay warm and safe.

Good morning.
       I had to take the car to town for gas. 2.49 a gallon here and climbing. 
       A few flurries in the air but slightly warmer than yesterday.
       I did a decoder install in a Baldwin RS12 yesterday. Lots of room for it and even had room for a sound unit in the hood. I need to paint the shell before I can install the lights but it is too cold for that and I don't have a paint booth set up in the train barn. I don't have many locomotives left to paint so I don't think it worthwhile to build a booth. I may consider a quick one from a small fan and cardboard box with an exhaust filter if it comes to that. 
Nothing else going on worth reporting. 
Stay warm and safe.
Charlie

Hello Blue
Just checking in.
No train news. I have had both shots now but we still stay home except when we must go.
Weather is the thing everywhere. We have passed the really cold snap and looking forward to a couple days next week near 40.

S.J.

Good morning everyone, gads, ten more days and we'll be into March. Time moves a lot faster than I do nowadays. Nothing spectacular to talk about, got a few train projects I'm in the process of doing. I was so disappointed with my last scratchbuilt that I've disassembled it and am starting on a new version. I've also bought all the material I need to build my display case. What's good about that is, I can do one standing up, and when I get too tired standing, I can sit and do the other.

I'm looking at the weather app that comes with Win10, and it shows temps in the low 70 all through the end of next week, yet they just added a slideshow, and one slide shows "temperatures in the low-80's for the Phoenix area next week".... I hope this app is by a third-party and not the folks that created the code for Windows because it never seems to be accurate and now contradicts itself.

I hope everyone here is safe from the affects of those storms, lack of power and bad water, and prayers go out to those that are.

Greetings, gang.

4 degrees outside my window this morning with a guessed at high near 20. Continued warming through the weekend with 40 predicted for midweek.

I got a card in the mail yesterday saying that my drivers license was due to expire and to go on line and set up an appointment. Tried that and they said I must have a cell phone number. I called another number and told them I didn't have one and I was probably one of the last 5 people on the planet to not have one. She laughed and said "not by a long shot." Anyway, she was able to set up an appointment for 4:30 yesterday afternoon and I now have a shiny new drivers license. I do have a cell phone but I don't need them knowing it. I use it very seldom anyway. I have a reminder set to charge it every Wed. I looked when I charged it and it was down to 50%. Like I said, I don't use it much at all! Called the vehicle registration and all I have to take is the title, registration, and death certificate. Once I get it changed to my name I can work on getting it to my granddaughter in Omaha.

Trip to the gym this morning and then off to the motor vehicle department to get title on my son's car changed to my name. Not sure what I plan to do this afternoon. Yesterday morning I went out to scoop the light snow off the sidewalks and hear a voice going "Good morning, Tom." The neighbor lady was out cleaning her sidewalk. We must be used to the cold because even though the temperature was only about 10 degrees we stood there and talked for about 20 minutes. I think she's as tired of being isolated as I am.

Gas price here jumped 20 cents yesterday. I'm sure it's due to the problems in Texas, or at least that's what they will claim.

All stay safe.

Tom

Good morning folks

It is 28 with a high of 32. Right now, it is sleeting. It is a very fine sleet almost like ice pellets. We got around 6 inches of snow and sleet. I hate sleet as it slides off the roof and piles up near the front door and back door. I spent a good part of the afternoon clearing the driveway and sidewalks.

No modeling. After dealing with the snow removal, I was in no shape to do much of anything. Hopefully I can get back to the layout.

I hope everybody has a good day.

(02-19-2021, 07:29 AM)FiatFan Wrote: [ -> ]...Gas price here jumped 20 cents yesterday.  I'm sure it's due to the problems in Texas, or at least that's what they will claim.

All stay safe.

Tom

Gas her went up 20 cents a week or so ago and 20-24 cents yesterday, so we're up to $2.75- 2.79 now at independents. The first jump was supposedly when some country, "shot down a drone" of another country in the Middle East. This time it could be because of the storms, but the newspaper article says to expect another 20 cent rise because of the refineries being shut down from the storms. I just filled up at Costco for $2.36, big difference from the rest.

Good morning. Slept till 8. Was 32 when I got up and light rain. Must have had a good shower before I got up. we have 1.57 on the weather station. 34 and warming. still some ice in the neighbor's pine trees. Nothing else has ice. Getting ready to go get 2nd shot.


Today Show showing the horrible things in Texas. Houses solid blocks of ice inside due to water pipes. Sad. Some people in charge of power grid need to pay.

According to guessers, we are headed for warmer and DRY weather. 

Have a great day. Stay well and warm.

Good morning, Saturday, did sleep in an extra half-hour or so. Been really tired since getting that second shot, that and a headache are after-affects according to the list they gave me. They're now saying that the Pfizer shot is 85% effective after the first one. I guess I could have stopped at one, but who knows...

Gas here is out of control, Costco went up five cents shortly after I filled up there yesterday, but still well below other stations. I saw $2.79 at a station that is normally lower than most. It doesn't seem to slow traffic down any though, streets are still congested,big motor homes moving around. Next, I expect food prices to rise, let's just hope the hoarders don't start another food panic.

Players must be here for Spring Training now. I see over a dozen guys outside the practice field waiting for balls to come over the fence. Some with baseball gloves on, some willing to bare hand it. You have to be alert though since they'll wonder out into traffic without looking just to chase a ball or to get into a better position. Why they will spend a couple of hours waiting to catch a ball that they can buy at Walmart for a few dollars is beyond me, I wouldn't do that even if the balls were gold plated.

Take care all and have a great weekend.

Greetings, gang.

Cloudy and 5 in the remote reaches of northern Iowa this morning. The predicted high should be in the upper 20s. 2-4 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow.

Decent day yesterday. I had a good workout at the gym (which means I got really sweaty). After lunch I got the new plates for my son's car. The lady at the DMV was very helpful. Even gave me a bill of sale form for when I transfer it to my granddaughter. Next up will be a recall scheduled for next Wed. Thinking about changing the oil also. After that I'll need to make some arrangements to get it to my granddaughter in Omaha. Laundry day today and I'm considering a run to Walmart for a few things.

I wonder how long it will take for gas prices to drop after the crisis in Texas is over. I would bet that it won't drop 20 cents at a time the way it goes up.

All stay safe.

Tom

Good Saturday Morning.

     I had a new experience yesterday. I paid someone to do my taxes. 77 years old and I always did them myself but this year I wanted to be sure I was right. I haven't had to file for the last 9 years , but I sold some stock that I had held for 20 years. I did the quick form to see if I had to file and the answer was yes, but I still didn't owe any federal tax. The state took a cut but I can't complain.
      Gas prices here are jumping too, and I will be surprised if we don't see 4 and 5 dollar a gallon once again. I only drive a total of 2500 miles a year on both vehicles now nd the car get 30 MPG so it won't be a hardship for me, but still is sad for the economy. 
       We went to Aldi on the way back from the tax office and I was really disappointed. Aldi always had reasonable prices and good merchandise but now I don't see that there.   The produce was terrible looking and the prices were higher than the local supermarket so we just got a few items and came home. I am hoping it is caused by the trucks having problems making deliveries, but we have seen a decline of store selection over the past couple years. They now sell more in the clothing and hardware line than they do food, an now they offer a selection of craft brews and wines, and that just adds to overhead as far as i am concerned. 
       Nothing doing out side today, I have been waiting for UPS to deliver a new printer, but they have a problem with bad weather between their depot and my house (12 miles) and haven't been able to make it for 4 days now. I have no complaints about our post office because they seem to be caught up and have been delivering right to my door.
        Tom, it seems like everything is working out for you. I can't imagine how hard this is and I pray you will be guided by a strong hand. 
 Hoping for good weather for all of us in the very near future. 
Charlie

40 and sunny. Strong breeze. Wind chill is lower. Slept till 9. Coffee and a chocolate iced cream filled from Krispy Kreme. Sat and watched TV [home improvement shows] with Wifey. Now to get moving. Feel fine now after 2nd shot. Yesterday about an hour after, I felt a little dizzy "off center".  Got better as time pasted.  Went in Train Box and ran Lionel diesel that Mike Reagan fixed.  Then set up aux water tender for N&W J he had put Legacy control board in.  Makes back coupler and backup light work.  

Actually I was informed I needed to drive Miss Daisy. 


Enjoy your day.

Good afternoon folks

It is a bright and sunny 29 heading all the way up to 31. No snow in the forecast until Monday.

Some craziness going on with my wife’s school district. It appears they want to be the first district in the county to be back 100% and are going hellbent on doing so despite the fact that community infection rates in their district are one of the highest in the county. The middle school where my wife works averages at least 2 staff or students a week getting a positive result. Thus far they are saying the infections are coming from outside the school. However, for some reason the Health Department has taken over doing the contact tracing from the school district.

My wife has several health issues that could be a huge and potentially deadly problem if she gets COVID. This is her check in month with most of her doctors. She has spoken to her allergist who said she could go back in person if certain conditions are met but he truly thinks it is safest for her to remain virtual until she gets the vaccine. She spoke to her endocrinologist yesterday and she said under no circumstances should she go in person until she gets the vaccine. She talks with her primary on Wednesday. She is forwarding the information to the school district as she receives it from the doctors. She is between a rock and a hard place at this point. One more point her student she works with is virtual. His parents do not want him in the school building, so my wife would go to the school building and work with him on the computer while he is still at home.

I had a productive day, or should I say destructive day as I removed all the foam from the second board. I was able to save the passenger station and Island Cement. The cupola on the station did come off but no other damage to any of the existing buildings/scenes. Next is cutting the framing and placing it in position.

Not sure what else is on tap for today. I do need to make a pharmacy run at some point this weekend.

Well, I am off to search for vaccine appointments. The endocrinologist recommended expanding the search to include most of the state. She has had other patients go out of the area to Lancaster County, the Poconos and beyond to get their shots. Apparently if you are going to a pharmacy you don’t have to stay in your county.

I hope everybody has a good day.